National Consultant (Programme Coordinator- Social Protection), SPEAR; Dhaka (Only for Bangladeshi)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child

Background:

UNICEF works closely with the Government of Bangladesh to support its National Social Security Strategy (NSS). To this end UNICEF is providing technical support with a focus on two areas (a) technical support to expand and operationalize MOWCA’s Mother and Child Benefit Programme (MCBP); and (b) support to strengthen the shock-responsive child-sensitive social protection system.

The MCBP is an innovative scheme for pregnant and lactating mothers and their children under the age of 4 years. The programme strives to establish a link between cash assistance and other basic social services (health, birth registration, Nutrition, ECCD) to help expand coverage and increase accessibility to a set of services for children from 0-4 years. The programme is led and coordinated by the Department of Women and Children Affairs under MOWCA. The MCBP is in the process of establishing linkages – through enhanced coordination with relevant ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development), ensuring interoperability among the systems for the services, e.g., ANC/PNC, immunization, birth registration, nutrition and ECD to children of 0-4 years. UNICEF, in collaboration with other development partners, is also providing technical support to the government to establish a functional shock-responsive child-sensitive social protection system as well as advocate with the government to expand social protection programmes in emergencies.

In this context, the UNICEF Bangladesh office is seeking a national consultant to support the implementation of the UNICEF-MoWCA cooperation framework as well as provide coordination and technical assistance for strengthening of shock-responsive social protection.

Purpose of the consultancy

The overall purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical and coordination support to the government and NGO partners in strengthening social protection for children. The key purposes of the consultancy are to:

1. Facilitate and coordinate implementation and scale-up of the Mother and Child Benefit Programme (MCBP)
2. Facilitate and coordinate preparedness and implementation of Emergency Humanitarian cash transfer
3. Provide support to the Child Sensitive Social Protection Policy Guidance Unit for strengthening social protection for children

How can you make a difference?

Key Tasks/ Responsibilities

The selected consultant is expected to work under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist; and s/he will primarily be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Facilitate and coordinate implementation and scale-up of the Mother and Child Benefit Programme (MCBP)

1.1 Facilitate and coordinate the expansion of MCBP implementation in selected locations.

1.2 Coordinate implementation of a model of cash plus approach (cash linked to ANC/PNC and Birth registration) in the selected locations

1.3 Monitor the implementation of the cash plus model and coordinate the baseline, midline and end-line data collection and reporting based on the developed Theory of Change and the M&E framework

1.4 Develop resource packages (guidelines, operations manuals) for implementation of the service integration

1.5 Enhance coordination and capacity building of the partner’s staff women development workers, M&E Officer and community health and family planning workers and ensure identification and referral cases.

1.6 Coordinate with and guide key partners (implementing partners, sub-national government offices, CSOs) in the selected locations to implement the model in the selected locations.

1.7 Coordinate with sections (child protection, SBCC, health, nutrition) to offer coordinated support to DWA

1.8 Coordinate and work closely with UNICEF, DWA and WFP on all aspects of the service integration model development, piloting and expanded implementation of the MCBP

1.9 Ensure the quality of the thematic reports submitted by the partners

1.10 Undertake any other task to ensure the smooth roll-out and implementation of the MCBP

2. Facilitate and coordinate preparedness for the implementation of an Emergency Humanitarian cash transfer (EHCT)

2.1 Support partnership establishment for facilitating the implementation of emergency cash transfer

2.2 Facilitate contract finalization with the financial service providers

2.3 Coordinate with Field offices and IPs to implement the emergency cash transfer when required.

2.4 Coordinate the baseline, midline and end-line data collection and reporting based on the M&E framework

2.5 Ensure partner’s report quality (thematic and financial reports) and facilitate fund disbursement.

2.6 Undertake any other task assigned by the supervisor/ Chief to ensure the smooth roll-out and implementation of the HCT.

3. Provide support to the Child Sensitive Social Protection Policy Guidance Unit for strengthening social protection for children

3.1 Coordinate with and provide support to the Cabinet Division to facilitate inter-ministerial coordination to strengthen service integration under MCBP

3.2 Provide support to the Cabinet Division to facilitate policy dialogue and advocacy events

3.3 Undertake any other tasks the supervisor/ Chief assigned to ensure smooth facilitation and coordination with the Cabinet Division.

Please see the TOR for more details:

SPEAR-Bried TOR.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Economics/ Development Study/Social Sciences/ Statistics/ or a related field
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in the areas of Social protection, local government, and human rights.
• Previous experience in similar activities with the UN or other international organizations will be an added advantage
• Previous work experience with government (national and/ or sub-national level) is desirable.
• Demonstrate knowledge, and experience understanding of the Bangladesh context, especially in social protection.

"The consultants indicate all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the services to be provided, including all associated administrative and travel costs. The office/division selects the individual with the lowest best and final offer, based on the best value for money."

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need a reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It only applies to consultants who will work remotely and are expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, and to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.